Scan barcode
A review by jessypt
The Angel by Tiffany Reisz
5.0
I had the privilege of reading an advance copy of this novel, and for that I'm deeply grateful.
I've been staring at my computer screen for what feels like close to an hour, trying to figure out how to capture the myriad feelings I felt while reading this book. There are lots of different types of readers, and I tend to be more emotional than most, I think. I fall hard and fast for characters and always want more more more. That's exactly what happened when I read Seven Day Loan, then The Siren, and everything else Tiffany Reisz has written as part of The Original Sinners series. The more I think about these characters, the more I want, and The Angel delivered and filled that need (albeit temporarily as I'm already champing at the bit for The Prince) in spades.
Nora Sutherlin... anything I could possibly say about her would be woefully inadequate. She is complex, beautiful, intelligent, witty, and so, so strong. All through this story, she battles with that incomplete feeling deep in her gut, but as in life, the source of that lacking isn't quite clear. Of course, as readers, we know, or at least we hope we do, but it takes a while for Nora to figure it out... with a little slap--literally and figuratively--in the face and some very heartfelt moments with her mother and Michael. The beauty of Tiffany's work, though, is that it's not a drama-filled angstfest. Nora carries on with her life, with her submission as she vowed to do, and it's in that submission we see what has got to be the most beautiful love story play out.
Which brings me to Søren. I'll be honest and say that I wasn't really a fan of Søren's in The Siren. That's not because he wasn't masterfully created, he is... god, he is, but I fell in love early with Wesley. So, the thing that caught me by surprise was how deeply my feelings grew for Søren this time around. He is terrifyingly intelligent, handsome beyond all measure, and so deeply in love with Eleanor that it's breathtaking to watch it play out across the pages. Sure, their love, by traditional convention, is nonstandard, but for them it works, and has worked for twenty years.
Tiffany uses Søren in this novel to bring healing to people, those who have been broken and abused by people that are supposed to be their greatest protectors. Michael, Suzanne, Eleanor, even Griffin, to a certain degree, find varying degrees of healing and faith and renewal under his mercy and the grace he shows. Can he be ruthless? Absolutely. Is he scary as hell? Beyond a doubt. But that's part of what makes him one of the best characters I've read. His story, and we learn a huge part of what makes him him in this book, is painful and devastating, and yet, even in all that, we see how his faith has made him stronger, given him the power to forgive, and by extension, the ability to love.
Griffin... All I can say is sweet mercy this man is hot and sexy and so amazing. I have loved him in all the pieces where he's been included. He's funny and giving, and the way he loves... ::sigh:: perfection.
Michael owned me from the minute we saw him as the virgin boy desperate for acceptance, kind touch, and love. What we get here is a lesson in character development 101 and beyond. His growth was exponential and believable. As I was reading, I often felt the truth of love's impact. Many times he talked about his fears of not being loved, of never finding someone he could give himself to fully... and yet, we see him find it and submit to it. I have NEVER wanted two people to get together in a book more than I did this one. His heartfelt confession gutted me (and you'll know what I mean when you get there), and what happened from that point on had me feeling so twisted up and flaily happy on the inside I could barely stand it!!
Every character in this story plays a vital role. Wesley, Suzanne, and all the others I've mentioned are the fabric and heart of Tiffany's work. Together they live out love, pain, ridiculously sexy erotic moments, and laughter, and the result is a world so rich and vibrant you feel special just being able to observe it play out.
I can't say enough good things about this book and the series as a whole. I am already anxiously awaiting The Prince and the books that follow. Can anyone say White Room?!
Don't walk. Run to get your hands on these books!
I've been staring at my computer screen for what feels like close to an hour, trying to figure out how to capture the myriad feelings I felt while reading this book. There are lots of different types of readers, and I tend to be more emotional than most, I think. I fall hard and fast for characters and always want more more more. That's exactly what happened when I read Seven Day Loan, then The Siren, and everything else Tiffany Reisz has written as part of The Original Sinners series. The more I think about these characters, the more I want, and The Angel delivered and filled that need (albeit temporarily as I'm already champing at the bit for The Prince) in spades.
Nora Sutherlin... anything I could possibly say about her would be woefully inadequate. She is complex, beautiful, intelligent, witty, and so, so strong. All through this story, she battles with that incomplete feeling deep in her gut, but as in life, the source of that lacking isn't quite clear. Of course, as readers, we know, or at least we hope we do, but it takes a while for Nora to figure it out... with a little slap--literally and figuratively--in the face and some very heartfelt moments with her mother and Michael. The beauty of Tiffany's work, though, is that it's not a drama-filled angstfest. Nora carries on with her life, with her submission as she vowed to do, and it's in that submission we see what has got to be the most beautiful love story play out.
Which brings me to Søren. I'll be honest and say that I wasn't really a fan of Søren's in The Siren. That's not because he wasn't masterfully created, he is... god, he is, but I fell in love early with Wesley. So, the thing that caught me by surprise was how deeply my feelings grew for Søren this time around. He is terrifyingly intelligent, handsome beyond all measure, and so deeply in love with Eleanor that it's breathtaking to watch it play out across the pages. Sure, their love, by traditional convention, is nonstandard, but for them it works, and has worked for twenty years.
Tiffany uses Søren in this novel to bring healing to people, those who have been broken and abused by people that are supposed to be their greatest protectors. Michael, Suzanne, Eleanor, even Griffin, to a certain degree, find varying degrees of healing and faith and renewal under his mercy and the grace he shows. Can he be ruthless? Absolutely. Is he scary as hell? Beyond a doubt. But that's part of what makes him one of the best characters I've read. His story, and we learn a huge part of what makes him him in this book, is painful and devastating, and yet, even in all that, we see how his faith has made him stronger, given him the power to forgive, and by extension, the ability to love.
Griffin... All I can say is sweet mercy this man is hot and sexy and so amazing. I have loved him in all the pieces where he's been included. He's funny and giving, and the way he loves... ::sigh:: perfection.
Michael owned me from the minute we saw him as the virgin boy desperate for acceptance, kind touch, and love. What we get here is a lesson in character development 101 and beyond. His growth was exponential and believable. As I was reading, I often felt the truth of love's impact. Many times he talked about his fears of not being loved, of never finding someone he could give himself to fully... and yet, we see him find it and submit to it. I have NEVER wanted two people to get together in a book more than I did this one. His heartfelt confession gutted me (and you'll know what I mean when you get there), and what happened from that point on had me feeling so twisted up and flaily happy on the inside I could barely stand it!!
Every character in this story plays a vital role. Wesley, Suzanne, and all the others I've mentioned are the fabric and heart of Tiffany's work. Together they live out love, pain, ridiculously sexy erotic moments, and laughter, and the result is a world so rich and vibrant you feel special just being able to observe it play out.
I can't say enough good things about this book and the series as a whole. I am already anxiously awaiting The Prince and the books that follow. Can anyone say White Room?!
Don't walk. Run to get your hands on these books!